Online shopping definitely has tons of benefits—no need to deal with traffic in EDSA, wait in line to pay for your item, or even change out of your pambahay. But while it comes with a long list of advantages, there are a few cons too.

To make sure you have the best OL shopping experience, FHM listed down seven tips below.

1) Shop on trusted websites

Watch out for bogus online sellers. There are few of them on Facebook and Instagram eyeing to rip off unsuspecting buyers. The best way to avoid them is to stick with reliable websites such as Lazada and Zalora. They carry everything under the sun and offer cash-on-delivery payment.

2) Know your size

You can try the different sizes of the item you're interested in when you're at a physical store, but with online shopping you don't have that privilege. Get a tape measure and take note of your measurements. Ask for the online retailer's size chart to help you determine what size you should be ordering.

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3) Check return policy

Sometimes even if you've followed the above instruction, there are still instances when the item doesn't fit well. Check the online store's return policy—if exchanges can be made, how long you have to send back the product, and if there's an extra shipping fee to pay.

4) Don't buy right away

Most of the time, online retailers offer the same items. Before you make the purchase, check out other online shops and compare their prices. Needless to say, go with the one with the cheaper offer.

5) Avoid buying branded items

...unless it's a reliable or authorize online retailer. Since you can't check the item personally, it could be hard to determine if the item is authentic. It's easy to grab a photo on Google and claim it's authentic.

6) Don't fall for "sales" right away

Sometimes websites raise the starting price of the item to make it look like you saved some money when actually you don't. Bookmark the link and check the price at similar stores or do a quick search on Google. You might find that the big discount you were getting is actually just the original price.

7) Follow their social media account

Online retailers announce new items, special discounts, and promo on social media first. Make sure you follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to stay updated.